News in Russia

On 22–23 October, an international conference called ‘The Improvement of National Mechanisms for the Effective Implementation of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms’ held by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe took place in St. Petersburg.

In response to the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia’s request, the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities of Russia reported that it has developed amendments to the legislation to resolve housing problems of displaced persons and people with disabilities.

Joint actions of Commissioner in Bashkortostan Republic Rim Kayumov and High Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Ella Pamfilova led to the restoration of constitutional rights of hard of hearing people, operating mechanical equipment at factories.

In a recent interview for NTV journalists, Commissioner for Human Rights in Smolensk Region Alexander Kapustin spoke about the lack of funding of a Smolensk Regional Mental Hospital new diagnostic and treatment unit construction.

A new project of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia was launched in October. Regional editions of the federal weekly The Arguments of the Week will have a legal column called ‘The Argument of the Human Rights Commissioner’. The human rights commissioners in four Russian regions: the Republic of Dagestan, Perm Territory, Sverdlovsk and Novosibirsk regions, will answer the most acute questions of public concern.

On 22 October, another release of the ‘Human Rights’ programme was broadcast on the Public Television of Russia channel (OTR). This time the subject of the discussion was defined by Commissioner for Human Rights in Trans-Baikal Territory Nikolay Kargin.

On 21 October, Commissioner for Human Rights in Ulyanovsk Region Lyudmila Krutilina together with the initiative group of young people inspected observation of the housing rights of persons qualified as orphans and children left without parental care.

Following the results of the investigation initiated by Commissioner for Human Rights in Novosibirsk Region Nina Shalabaeva in relation to the managing company of an apartment building, an administrative offence procedure was initiated and the supply of electricity and water to the apartments restored.